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Steel frame shipping damage. Can it be saved?

  • This topic has 20 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by VeloUSA.
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  • May 26, 2018 at 11:23 pm #28560
    touring_bmore

    Dear road.cc community,

    I recently ordered a Surly Cross Check frame on ebay that I wanted to build up as a commuter and light touring bike.
    However, when I started, I realized, that the rear triangle is bent inwards. This most likely happened during shipping (FedEx ground) when something heavy was put on top of the box and the rear triangle was pushed together.
    Unfortunately there was no spacer between the rear dropouts to prevent this from happening.
    Normally, the Cross Check should have a 132 mm rear spacing. Now the spacing is 90 mm (see picture).

    Can this frame be saved?
    The ebay seller is asking if I can’t just bend it back since it’s a steel frame.
    But I am afraid that it will either brake in the process or even if it doesn’t, become unsafe to ride. If it was just 1 cm, I wouldn’t hesitate to bend it back, but the rear dropouts are now 4 cm closer together than they should be.
    I also think that it will be difficult/impossible to achieve a proper allignment of the rear dropouts if I bend it back.

    Thank you for your help!

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  • May 29, 2018 at 2:30 pm #920257
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    VeloUSA

    From eBay – “If the item you

    From eBay – “If the item you received doesn’t match the description in the original listing, or if it arrived faulty or damaged, you’re covered under the eBay Money Back Guarantee. You can return it even if the seller’s returns policy says they don’t accept returns.”

    May 29, 2018 at 9:16 am #920255
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    Canyon48
    Mr Pennington wrote:
    Ouch! Not worth repairing. Follow what others have said about eBay return, eBay should generate a prepaid shipping label (seller pays for return). However, this applies only to listings that state money back. If the listing has ‘no returns’ eBay claims must get invloved to settle the dispute.

    “No returns” only applies to goods that are as described and working. I.e. the buyer can’t change their mind after purchase and return a product that is fine.

    If it’s damaged in transit or not as described then the buyer will get a full refund and the seller will have to pay to have the item returned.

    May 28, 2018 at 9:47 am #920253
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    madcarew

    Your question is “Can it be

    Your question is “Can it be saved ? “. I think the answer probably is yes. The frame should bend back in to place relatively easily, especially with the assistance of a competent bike shop. It won’t be as good as new, and the dropouts will line up as near as dammit. It doesn’t look like an expensive frame, so as a knockabout bike I think it would be fine. Question is do you want to go to the hassle? 

    That said, the person sending it should have wrapped it effectively, and protected the drop outs, so it really is their problem…. hopefully.

    May 28, 2018 at 7:31 am #920251
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    hawkinspeter

    With EBay, it’ll be the

    With EBay, it’ll be the seller’s responsibility to pay for return postage for an item not as described (i.e. bent frame). Usually the seller can send a pre-paid postage label direct from EBay (this is a cheap and easy option for both buyer and seller), but otherwise, the buyer can send the item back and then get a refund for the postage from the seller. If the seller doesn’t want to go down the pre-paid label option, then threaten to use a more expensive service to send it back and point out the EBay policy:

    https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/returns-missing-items-refunds-buyers?id=4008

    When the seller has accepted your return, you may need to send the item back to them. Who pays the shipping costs depends on why you’re returning it. If the item was damaged or faulty, they’re responsible for the return shipping costs – if you changed your mind, who covers the cost will depend on the seller’s return policy.

    May 28, 2018 at 7:29 am #920249
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    cyclisto

    Ouch! Who thought sending a
    Ouch! Who thought sending a frame without spacers? It is a pity that a nice a frame was ruined like that even if you get a refund.

    In any case, should you return it, put a tiny mark somewhere beforehand, just in case they bend it back and ship it to you again.

    May 28, 2018 at 3:28 am #920247
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    Mr Pennington

    Ouch! Not worth repairing.

    Ouch! Not worth repairing. Follow what others have said about eBay return, eBay should generate a prepaid shipping label (seller pays for return). However, this applies only to listings that state money back. If the listing has ‘no returns’ eBay claims must get invloved to settle the dispute.

    May 27, 2018 at 10:19 pm #920245
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    Fish_n_Chips

    That’s why the seller uses

    That’s why the seller uses delivery companies with insurance!

     

    Stop wasting time!

    May 27, 2018 at 9:52 pm #920243
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    touring_bmore

    Thank you so much for all the

    Thank you so much for all the helpful comments and advice. I really appreciate it .

    I agree with all of you that said it’s most likely broken beyond repair. I’m not going to do anything with the frame myself and have contacted the seller about a refund. The ebay policy regarding this seems to be pretty straight forward. I also contacted Surly in the hope they might offer a discounted frame replacement similar to a crash-replacement. But of course they don’t have to since this is clearly not a manufacturing mistake.

    Thank you again, I will keep you updated how this will play out.

    May 27, 2018 at 8:34 pm #920241
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    Canyon48

    Don’t touch it.

    Don’t touch it.

    If you start messing around with it, eBay may not side with you.

    It was broken in transit, the seller has to refund you and pay for the return postage.

    May 27, 2018 at 6:30 pm #920239
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    matthewn5

    Take it up with Ebay as a

    Take it up with Ebay as a ‘not as described’, upload pictures, they’ll sort it. Don’t do anything to it yourself.

    I bought a carbon frame that was shipped without spacers, and of course, the chain stay was cracked. Ebay asked me to send it back tracked and as soon as it was recorded as ‘delivered’ they gave me a full refund.

    May 27, 2018 at 2:55 pm #920237
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    Anonymous

    That frame is f’cked, ensure

    That frame is f’cked, ensure the sender pays for return, do NOT be out of pocket, it is their responsibility to organise return and is your right in law.

    it’s then his problem to deal with the courier.

    If he gets shirty about having to pay for return simply contact ebay as they know it’s the sellers responsibility for return.

    GL

    May 27, 2018 at 10:32 am #920235
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    zero_trooper

    It may be saveable, but I

    It may be saveable, but I suspect not economically. This really is the vendors issue and not yours.

    I was in a similar position a few years ago. Got a good deal on Ebay for something I really wanted, it just didn’t work properly. The vendor disputed the issue, but Ebay sorted the refund for me. There’ll be other, better Surly frames that come up.

    May 27, 2018 at 9:28 am #920233
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    hawkinspeter

    Definitely go for a complete

    Definitely go for a complete refund.

    The seller should have arranged safe delivery and hopefully insurance (if not, then it’s their loss), so there’s no incentive on you taking the risk to repair the frame and possibly discover issues long after the refund period is over.

    Also, that’s a dramatic amount of bending – I’d guess that the frame would need more than just bending back to shape.

    May 27, 2018 at 8:47 am #920231
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    StraelGuy

    Sadly, I agree with

    Sadly, I agree with Mungecrundle. Even if you pull the dropout back into position, you’re never going to get that pinching in the tube out. I’d press for a refund if I were you.

    May 27, 2018 at 6:53 am #920229
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    Mungecrundle

    Not an expert on frame fixing
    Not an expert on frame fixing, but that kink in the chainstay is not going to pop out if you simply bend the triangle back. Even if that frame can be economically repaired, I’d personally be asking the seller for a refund and let them sort it out.

    There are lots of caveats but generally Ebay terms and position on refunds are far more generous to buyers than sellers, and although not the sellers fault (no damage seen in the auction photos presumably) it is up to them to argue over any compensation from their shippers (assuming they arranged shipping).

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